49ers Preseason: 3 position battles to watch for vs Broncos

Position battles will start to kick up a notch for the San Francisco 49ers with the preseason nearing it's midway point. Every position will be hotly contested, but it is these three position battles that you need to watch for come Monday night against the Denver Broncos.

Week two of the preseason is just around the corner for the San Francisco 49ers as they are just now concluding day two of their joint practices with the Denver Broncos. It is around this time that position battles reach it's peak with every player fighting for a spot feeling the heat. The bulk of the 49ers starters will see a bit of playing time on Monday night. Probably about a series or two depending on how both sides of the ball looks.

Most of the starters are already embedded, while others are trying to solidify themselves as one. Of course, there are a lot of battles that are beneath the surface. Backups and depth players will want an impressive performance against the Broncos to convince the coaches of their value. These next two preseason games will be big for those players at every position, but not as crucial as it is for these three position battles that we need to watch for come Monday night.

Quarterback

Head coach Kyle Shanahan has maintained that neither Nick Mullens or CJ Beathard has staked their claim as the backup quarterback. This Monday both players will have another shot at convincing Shanahan they are the rightful backup. However, as of right now I would give the edge for the position to Nick Mullens. Early in the week at practice CJ Beathard injured his thumb, which forced him to exit the field. While it didn’t appear serious, that little bit of missed time is sufficient enough to give Mullens the lead.

He was also graded highly by Pro Football Focus against the Cowboys last week with a 84.6, further cementing his lead. Monday night will be his chance to put the nail in coffin and fully bury Beathard on the depth chart. At that point, there would just be a gleam of hope for Beathard to stake his claim as backup. This game is a big one for Beathard who cannot afford a poor game. While injuries did play a part, Beathard was looked over in favor of Mullens. If this happens for a second time, then it is clear what Beathard's future is with the 49ers.

Safety

Tarvarius Moore has been getting the bulk of first team looks at free safety due in part to the injury of Jimmie Ward. However, Ward is no longer ailing and was officially cleared to participate without restrictions yesterday. Moore has been playing well up until this point, but a slip up against the Broncos could end his chances of starting week one. Ward is already familiar with the defense and can slide back into the position easily. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh would have no qualms with handing the reigns back to Ward.

With Moore, it’s about getting him back to feeling for the position after playing cornerback all last season. Moore needs to put a strangle hold at free safety by continuing to assert himself. Last week against the Cowboys, he was solid in coverage with no passes coming his way. Continuing this play will only keep Jimmie Ward at bay. Whether Ward plays Monday night or not, Moore needs a good showing this game to increase his chances of starting. 

Wide receivers

Last Sunday, Kyle Shanahan issued a challenge to his wide receivers that he wanted his players to step up. Not a single one has stood out to him through training camp or against the Dallas Cowboys last week. Now the 49ers will square off against an elite Broncos secondary. Who will be the player that answers the call? It’s going to be tough for any one of these players to make plays against a Vic Fangio coached defense. Luckily, this will be the third time these receivers will be going up against this secondary since they two teams had two joint practices together.

That should give them an edge of familiarity of how to attack. Still, that might not be enough for these guys. Dante Pettis, Deebo Samuel, Jalen Hurd or whoever. Each and every one of them needs to make an impact on Monday night because as it stands there isn’t a true number one receiver on this team. If one of the receivers is able to standout against this secondary, then they will easily pull ahead of the pack. They will be viewed as dependable option for Kyle Shanahan, which makes this position battle an enticing one to watch.